Decorative textile strand and fabric embodying same



June 27, 1967 P. L. PAGE 3, ,4

DECORATIVE TEXTILE STRAND AND FABRIC EMBODYING SAME Filed July 27, 1964 FIG. I

FIG. 6

PAU L L. PAG E INVENTOR.

BY g

AGENT United States Patent 3,327,468 DECORATIVE TEXTILE STRAND AND FABRIC EMBODYING SAME Paul L. Page, Russel Township, Geauga County, Ohio,

assiguor to Hercules Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,290 4 Claims. (Cl. 57-140) This invention relates to novel decorative textile strands and textile fabrics comprising said strands. More particularly, this invention relates to novel decorative textile strands in the manufacture of which there is employed narrow ribbons produced by slitting oriented stereoregular polypropylene film, and to textile fabrics incorporating such strands.

There are many specialty textile applications in which decorative yarns, threads, strands, etc., are important in order to achieve special artistic efiects, as for example, in upholstery, drapery, bedspreads, millinery, womens clothing and accessory articles such as purses, belts and shoes, etc., decorative cording, braids and tapes, and the like. Various specialized and decorative yarns, threads, strands, filaments, monofils, etc., are presently utilized in the construction of such fabrics, as for example, strands of metal foil, metallized strands and filaments of polyethylene terephthalate, rayon straw yarns, polyvinylidene strands, and others. Each such material creates its own peculiar artistic and decorative effect when utilized in textile fabrics. Hence, fabricators of decorative fabrics are continually on the alert for additional novel decorative threadlike or strandlike filamentary materials in order to create still further artistic and decorative style effects.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide novel decorative textile strands comprising narrow ribbons of oriented stereoregular polypropylene film, and textile fabrics incorporating such strands.

Another object of this invention is to enlarge the field of the weavers art as applied to the optical effects and patterns which can be obtained in textile fabrics by providing novel decorative strands having a distinctively attractive and unusual sparkle unattainable with prior art decorative strands.

In accordance with this invention it has been discovered that textile strands comprising at least one narrow linear ribbon of stereoregular polypropylene film oriented in at least the linear direction of the ribbon axis, said ribbon being coextensive with said strand, have a distinctively attractive and unusual sparkle not obtainable with known nonmetallic or nonmetallized decorative textile strands, and much more pleasing to the eye than the harsh, brassy glitter of metal strands, or metallized strands or filaments. Textile fabrics embodying the novel decorative strands of this invention have distinctive artistic and decorative effects attributable to the use of said novel decorative strands. These strands, and textile fabrics embodying these strands, are further characterized by having good strength and toughness properties combined with a full, bulky handle which is pleasing.

The narrow linear ribbons of stereoregular polypropylene film utilized in the novel decorative strands of this invention are produced by slitting stereoregular polypropylene film, which film has been oriented by stretching or drawing at least with respect to the length axis, or machine direction, of said film so that the linear axis of each narrow ribbon thus produced is parallel to the length axis of said film. If desired, the stereoregular polypropylene film may be oriented in the cross machine direction also, and the narrow ribbons in the case of such biaxial orientation are produced by slitting the biaxially oriented film lengthwise, in the machine direction of film manufacture.

3,327,468 Patented June 27, 1967 ice These narrow linear ribbons of stereoregular polypropylene film may constitute all or part of the novel decorative strands of this invention, which strands may be in the form of a fiat unaltered ribbon, a ribbon twisted into a threadlike structure, a folded ribbon having the folds parallel to the linear axis of the ribbon, a ribbon compressed and crushed together into a strawlike structure, two or more ribbons convolutely wound together into a helix, three or more ribbons braided together, and similarly equivalent textile strands.

Certain embodiments of the invention are shown, by way of illustration, in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a strand produced by twisting a narrow linear ribbon of stereoregular polypropylene film into a threadlike structure;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, not necessarily to scale, of a braided strand produced by braiding three ribbons together;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, not necessarily to scale, of a strand produced by convolutely wrapping two ribbons together into a helix;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a strand produced by compressing and crushing a flat ribbon into a strawlike structure;

FIG. 5 illustrates four enlarged, related and progressive fragmentary isometric views in producing strands having folded structures;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, centrally broken away, illustrating a plain weavetextile fabric embodying the novel decorative strands of this invention.

In greater detail, it will be seen by reference to FIG. 1 that a strand having a threadlike structure 24 is produced by twisting a narrow linear ribbon 11 of stereoregular polypropylene film which has been oriented in at least the linear direction of the ribbon axis.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a braided strand 25 produced by braiding together three narrow linear ribbons 12, 13, and 14, one, two, or all of which may be ribbons of stereoregular polypropylene film which has been oriented in at least-the linear direction of the ribbon axis. In FIG. 2 the three ribbons 12, 13, and 14 illustrate, respectively, an uncolored or natural colored ribbon, a green colored ribbon, and a brown colored ribbon. It will be understood, however, that any desired combination of colors may be employed and that when only part of the ribbons are of oriented stereoregular polypropylene film, that the remaining strands may be any known and conventional decorative textile yarn, thread, strand, or filament, as desired. Moreover, braided structures having more than three, for example 4, 5, or 6, ribbons or filamentary strands in their construction are contemplated by this invention. a

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a striped strand 26 produced by convolutely winding or wrapping together two narrow linear ribbons 15 and 16 into a helix, one or both of which may be ribbons of stereoregular-polypropylene film which has been oriented in at least the linear'direction of the ribbon'axis. In FIG. 3 the two ribbons 15 and 16 illustrate, respectively, an uncolored or natural colored ribbon, and a brown colored ribbon. It will be understood, however, that any desired combination of colors may be employed, and that when only one of the ribbons is of oriented stereoregular polypropylene film, that the remaining strand may be any known and conventional decorative textile strand, preferably, however, in the form of a ribbon or filamentary band.

FIG. 4 illustrates a strand having a strawlike structure 27 produced by compressing and crushing a narrow linear ribbon 17 of stereoregular polypropylene film which has been oriented in at least the linear direction of the ribbon axis.

FIG. 5 illustrates successive stages for progressing from a flat unaltered ribbon 18 of oriented stereoregular polypropylene film to various folded strands as depicted by 19, 20, and 21. Moreparticularly, folded strand 19 is produced by folding in each lengthwise edge of ribbon 18 into juxtaposition with each other. Folded strand 20, in turn, is produced by folding in each folded lengthwise edge of strand 19 into juxtaposition with each other, and folded strand 21 is produced by folding in each folded lengthwise edge of strand 20 into juxtaposition with each other. Any of the strands depicted by 18, 19, 20, and 21 of FIG. 5 are suitable for the purpose of this invention. This invention also contemplates strands having other folded structures, as for example, strands produced by folding in each lengthwise edge so that said edges overlap each other to any desired degree, instead of being in juxtaposition as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 6, illustrating an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a plain weave textile fabric 28, centrally broken away, all or any par-t of warp threads 22 may be strands comprising at least one narrow linear ribbon of stereoregular polypropylene film oriented in at least the linear direction of the ribbon axis, and said strands may be of any of the structural configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, and similar equivalent structures, as pointed out hereinabove. Similarly, all or any part of filler threads 23 may be strands in accordance with this invention embodying at least one narrow linear ribbon of stereoregular polypropylene film oriented in at least the linear direction of the ribbon axis. This invention also contemplates textile fabric in which all or any part of only the warp threads are strands in accordance with this invention, the remaining weaving elements of which fabric may be any known and conventional textile yarn, thread, strand, or filament, as desired. Similarly, this invention contemplates textile fabrics in which all or any part of only the filler threads are strands in accordance with this invention, the remaining weaving elements of which fabric may be any known and conventional textile yarn, thread, strand, or filament, as desired. It will be further understood that the plain weave fabric depicted by FIG. 6 is merely illustrative, and that any other woven or knitted pattern or structure whatsoever may be employed as desired.

Stereoregular polypropylene suitable for film manufacture is a standard article of commerce available from numerous manufacturers. Similarly, stereoregular poly propylene film which has been uniaxially oriented in the machine direction of film manufacture, as well as stereoregular polypropylene film which has been b-iaxially oriented in both the machine direction of manufacture and also in the cross machine direction are likewise standard articles of commerce which are readily available from manufacturers of such film.

The narrow ribbons of oriented stereoregular polypropylene film may be of any desired thickness and width. In general, however, thickness will range from about 0.0005 inch to about 0.01inch, and width will range from about inch to about /2 inch, depending largely upon the particular use contemplated for the novel strands of this invention.

It is believed that the distinctively attractive and unusual sparkle of the ribbons of oriented stereoregular polypropylene film is due partially at least to the high gloss and high reflectance of oriented stereoregular polypropylene film, and at least in part by numerous tiny planes or facets created by twisting, folding, crushing, etc., of the high modulus oriented stereoregular polypropylene film.

The novel decorative textile strands of this invention embodying narrow ribbons of oriented stereoregular polypropylene film are useful in a wide variety of textile fabrics, as for example, automobile fabrics, upholstery fabrics, drapery fabrics, luggage fabrics, bookbinding fabrics, millinery fabrics, handbag fabrics, shoe fabrics, wall covering fabrics, place mats, tablecloths, decorative screens, braids and tapes, venetian blind cords, and decorative threads in dress, drapery, upholstery, towel, and bedspread fabrics.

The general nature of the invention has been set forth, and the following example illustrates a specific embodiment thereof:

Example Biaxially oriented natural color stereoregular polypropylene film 0.00054 inch thick (54-gage film) was slit lengthwise, in the machine direction of film manufacture, into ribbons, inch wide, and each such ribbon was given 4 twists per inch on take-up. The denier of the twisted strands thus produced was 492, with a tenacity of 2 grams per denier and 'a breaking elongation of 55%.

These twisted strands were employed for all of the warp and all of the filler strands to produce a plain flat weave textile having 40 warp strands and 32 filler strands per inch and weighing 4.6 ounces per square yard. This fabric was characterized by an unusually pleasing attractive luster and sparkle not obtainable with any previously known textile material.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A decorative textile strand comprising at least one narrowribbon of high modulus stereoregular polypropylene film oriented in at least its lengthwise direction, said ribbon being irregularly folded transversely thereof with said folding varying continuously lengthwise of the ribbon to provide a strand having a plurality of highly reflective facets.

2. A decorative textile strand in accordance with claim 1 in which said ribbon is irregularly folded transversely by twisting about an axis lengthwise thereof.

3.. A decorative textile strand in accordance with claim 2 in which said ribbon is of substantially 500 denier.

4. A woven textile fabric at least part of the weaving elements of which are decorative textile strands each consisting of at least one narrow ribbon of high modulus stereoregular polypropylene film oriented in at least its lengthwise direction and irregularly folded transversely thereof with said folding varying continuously lengthwise of the ribbon to provide a plurality of highly reflective facets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 520,249 5/1894 Williams 57l60 X 1,995,696 3/1935 Wallach 57-155 X 2,981,052 4/1961 MacHenry 5731 X 3,112,301 11/1963 Natta et al. 26093.7 3,126,699 3/1964 Lefeurr et al 57--160 3,154,449 12/1964 Levine et a1 28-1 X STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DECORATIVE TEXTILE STRAND COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE NARROW RIBBON OF HIGH MODULUS STEREOREGULAR POLYPROPYLENE FILM ORIENTED IN AT LEAST ITS LENGTHWISE DIRECTION, SAID RIBBON EBING IRREGULARLY FOLDED TRANSVERSELY THEREOF WITH SAID FOLDING VARYING CONTINUOUSLY LENGTHWISE OF THE RIBBON TO PROVIDE A STRAND HAVING A PLURALITY OF HIGHLY REFLECTIVE FACETS. 